Chhattisgarh’s political temperature soared in the assembly on Thursday, day four of the budget session. Leader of Opposition Bhupesh Baghel, once the state’s chief minister, unleashed criticism against the government, branding their handling of custodial deaths as deceptive.
During question hour, Baghel grilled authorities on unnatural fatalities in jails from late January 2025 to 2026. Deputy CM Vijay Sharma disclosed 66 such incidents, with 18 judicial probes wrapped up and 48 pending.
Baghel demanded specifics: names, causes, and timelines. Sharma committed to full disclosure. Escalating, Baghel cited Pankaj Sahu of Kawardha and Jivan Thakur of Kanker, slamming Thakur’s case as bogus. ‘What did the probe reveal?’ he asked pointedly.
Sharma rebutted, affirming Thakur’s arrest stemmed from evidence. Brought to Kanker jail on October 12, 2025, Thakur was treated in hospital until October 17, visited by kin. Other ministers, including Health’s Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, navigated similar salvos.
Echoing Wednesday’s pandemonium, opposition disruptions painted a picture of distrust. Baghel’s rhetoric taps into broader anxieties over prison conditions, urging reforms to prevent tragedies.
This confrontation isn’t isolated; it’s part of a pattern where opposition challenges government narratives on safety and justice. As debates rage, Chhattisgarh’s citizens watch closely, hoping for resolutions that prioritize human lives over political point-scoring.